momanis



Dec. 24, 1929.

F. MCMANIS TRACTOR ATTACHMENT FOR PIPE CLEANERS Filed May 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 24, 1929. F. McMANlS 1,740,663

TRACTOR ATTACHMENT FOR PIPE CLEANERS Filed May 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW Dec. 24, 1929.

F. M MANIS TRACTOR ATTACHMENT FOR PIPE CLEANERS Filed May 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet Jwwmtw/ s dQ wu mama! Dec. 1 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED MCHANIS, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS,-ASSIGNOR TO W-K-M COMPANY, 01 HOUSTON,

TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS I TRACTOR ATTACHMENT FOR PIPE CLEANERS Application filed May 6, 1927.- Serial No. 189,283

My invention relates to an attachment for tractors whereby a pipe cleaner may be supported and operated in the field by power furnished either from the tractor itself or from some other and separate source of power. v

In cleaning the outside of larger sizes of pipes, such as are employed in pipe lines, forv the transportation of oil,1gas or other fluid, it is necessary to support and operate the cleaner along the pipe in the ditch in which the pipe is laid. Although the pipe may sometimes be elevated upon skids for cleaning, it is often impossible to lift the pipe from its position in the ditch, due to the fact that the pipe has become rusted and corroded until it is so' weak, particularly at the joints, that it cannot be moved without serious danger of breakage and consequent waste of oil or other fluid carried by the pipe. The pipe cleaner must be supported and moved along the pipe while the cleaner is operated to clear the pipe of rust and scale, so that a protecting coating of paint or composition may be applied thereto.

Heretofore, cleaners of this nature have been supported for operation by the pipe itself, the pipe furnishing a track upon which the cleaner is supported and propelled. This system is subject to some objectionable features. It sometimes is dangerous to the pipe to rest the full weight of the cleaner upon the pipe; for' the motor and frame, as well as the cleaning elements all must be supported upon the pipe in such case and the weight ofsuch an apparatus is necessarily great. Furthermore, the actuating and supporting mech anism must be located in the ditch where they cannot be conveniently reached by the operator. a

It is an object of my invention to provide an attachment for tractors whereby the cleaner may be supported and moved along the pipe able 'to different levels while it is being operated and to move the cleaner at any desired speed along the ipe.

Referring to t e drawings herewith, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of .a tractor equipped with my attachment, certain parts being broken away for greater clearness. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a view of the cleaner'in end view with the parts in open arrangement. Fig. 4 is an end view of the cleaner inclosed operative arrangement; and Fig. 5 is a broken rear view of a modified form of attachment. Like numerals of reference are employed to, designate likeparts in all'the views.

The tractor with which my attachment ma be used may be of anypreferred make. T

have shown the attachment applied to a make of tractor now extensively used. It is of the caterpillar type having rear wheels 1 and front wheels 2 connected by the tractor chain 3.- Its frame or chassis is of the usual construction and furnishes a support for my attachment which is constructed to fit thereon.

It is contemplated that the tractor will be driven along the side of the ditch shown at 4 and that the cleaner, indicated generally so at A willbe suspended on a boom 13 mounted upon the tractor.

The boom B comprises a body 5, preferably of tubular construction, and mounted in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the upper end thereof will project from the side of the tractor to a position immediately over the pipe. This boom is provided with supporting legs 6 and 7 which are secured to the frame of the tractor in any convenient position so as to firmly support the boom in wardly from the .upper end of the boom is a supporting yoke 14 upon which is mounted the pulley 15, over which a separate cable 16 12 furnishin a mounting for a sheave having two p leys .13 therein. Spaced inmay pass. The cable 17 is wound upon a reel or s 001 18 toward the lower side of the boom, sai reel being rotatable through a crank arm I 19 and having thereon a ratchet60 engaging Mounted upon the supporting legs 7 of the.

A boom is an arcuate rod 21 curved outwardly boom downwardly away from the tractorand furnishing means whereby the cleaner may be supported when out of use. A rod 22 extending from the to the member 21 serves to strengthen said member and acts as a guide for weights 23 secured to the inner end of the cable 16 and acting to counterbalance the weight of the .cleaner frame A on said cable.

The cleaner shown in the drawings may be understood as representing any desirable form of cleaner. The exact construction of this member forms the subject matter ofaseparate application and is no part of the present invention. The construction of the cleaner is shown, however, in the drawings. It comprises a cylindrical frame work 24 which is made in two parts pivoted at 25 and having a latch on the opposite side 26. Upon this frame work are a series of hinged doors 27 adapted to be swung outwardly away from the frame into the position shown in Fig. 3 when access is to be obtained thereto or when the cleaner is to be passed over a collar or other projection upon the pipe. Upon each of these doors is mounteda series of cleaning elements including brushes 28 and cleaning rollers 29. These cleaning elements are held resiliently and inwardly toward the pipe and are adapted to chip and brush the rust and corrosion from the pipe surface as the frame work is rotated.

This frame work as shown in Fig. 1 is mounted centrally within a supporting frame 30. This support engages the frame work of the cleaner intermediate the ends thereof and a housing is formed about said frame, said The upper end ofthe housing has a yoke or.

clevis 37- thereon to which the hook 20- may be engaged to support the said housing.

The shaft 36 has a universal joint 38 therein of any preferred construction to allow the changes in position of the housing relative to said shaft. The shaft is also made extensiblelongitudinally by having a sleeve on the forward end of said shaft telescopin over a rod 39 on the inner end of said sha there being a drivingconnection between said rod and sleeve.

I The ordinary tractor has a ower take-off including a shaft extending aterally from the transmission housing of the tractor. As this takeoff shaft is on the right-hand side of the tractor as it is viewed from the rear, I have connected said take-01f shaft with a line shaft 40 at the rear end of the tractor frame. A sprocket wheel 41 thereon is connected with a similar wheel on the take-off shaft, thereby serving to rotate the shaft 40. Said -'shaft 40 extends across the rear end of the tractor and is operatively connected at its other end to a stub shaft 42 mounted in the frame of the car and having thereon a beveled gear 43 which in turn meshes with a similar gear 44 upon the shaft 45, also mounted in the frame of the car and. extending forwardly to approximately midway between the ends of the tractor where it is connected through beveled gears with the shaft 39, previously referred to. A second universal joint 46 may be employed in connection with the shaft 39 for greater flexibility in the operation of the shaft. 7

In order to move the cleaner frame A and the cleaner longitudinally of the pipe inperforming the cleaning operation, I connect the frameA with arms 47 and 48, projecting from the frame of the tractor at points spaced on the forward and rear sides of the said frame A. These arms project to a point be- ,low the shaft 33 on the cleaner frame and are secured to hooks 48 on the forward and rear sides thereof by means of links 49 and tension s rings 50. In this manner, the tract: tion e ect upon the cleaner frame may be exerted from the forward or rearward side thereof to act resiliently on the frame through the effect of the springs 50 so that there will be no abrupt or violent pull upon the said frame.

In the operation of the device, the tractor will be driven along the side of the ditch in which the pipe is laid and the pipe will be elevated gradually at spaced points to allow the cleaner frame to be engaged about the pipe. This will be done in an obvious manner, as seen from Figs. 2 and 3. The opera- A in its elevated position.

' may be actuated to rotate the cleaner frame work within the frame 30. As the pipe is thus gradually cleaned, the tractor will be moved along the side of the ditch and parallel therewith to guide the cleaner along the pipe. Any inequalities in the ground and the difference .in the levels of the two wheels of the tractor may be accommodated by a raising and lowering of the frame A relative to the tractor. The springs 50 will allow the frame to be raised and lowered relative to the tractor frame without interfering with the moving of the cleaning frame along the pi e.

Ordinarily the weights 23 will exactly balance the weight of the frame A so that any variation in the level of the pipe relative to the tractor chassis will be automatically compensated through the said weights and to allow this automatic adjustment. The reel 18 will be released by withdrawing the pawl 61 from connection therewith so that the weight of the frame. will be entirely under the control of the balancing weights 23. The

universal joints within the shaft 36 will allow the operation of the cleaner without interfering in any way with'the rotation of the said shaft.

When the cleaner is to be detached from the pipe and moved away from the ditch, the

cable '17 will bereeled up so as to raise the frame work free of the ditch andto the level of the rod 21. A chain or cable may be then used to anchor the cleaner frame in a position resting upon the bar 21 where it may be supported while the device is being moved from place to place. To accommodate this movement, the links 49 on the chassis frame may be easily detached from the cleaner frame in an obvious manner.

In some cases, thepipe is in such condition that it may be elevated from the ditch and placed on skids for cleaning. Fig. 5 illustrates the use of my device in such a connection. The skids 52 are extended across the ditch and the pipe, indicated at 53, is supported thereon. The skids may be moved from place to place along the pipe as the cleaner is operated thereon. Under such conditions, the arms 47 upon the tractor frame are extended upwardly at an angle relative to the frame so as to engage the cleaner frame The universal joints 38 and 46 allow the operation of the cleaner in its raised position without interfering at all with theeiiicient action of the driving connection. The operation of the .device and the connection thereof in other details will be. practically identical with that shown in the usual form-of the device. It is possible, therefore, with very little change in the construction of the attachment to provide for the operation of the cleaner either within the ditch or upon pipe supported at the level of the tractor.

The advantages of this construction lie in I the fact that the pipe may be-cleaned without the resting of any weight thereon. The

cleaner may be moved along the pipe and also supported in proper positlon thereon by the tractor itself, so that it will move along the pipe with no danger to the pipe itself. -T he positioning of the cleaner upon thepipe will be practically automatic through the balancing of the weights 23, and the power already present in the engine of the tractor may be employed in operating the cleaner, as described.

While I have shown and described the cleaner as being'operated from the tractor, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be confined to this particular source of power as any individual power unitv may be employed as desired, depending upon the conditions to be overcome in the field.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A pipe cleaner attachment for tractors including'a boom, a'support therefor on said tractor, a cable .on said boom, a'frame suspended on said cable, a pipe cleaner supported in said frame, a shaft at the upper end of said frame, means to rotate said cleaner from said shaft, a power take-off from said tractor, and operative connections between said power take-off and said shaft.

2. A pipe cleaner attachment for tractors including a boom, a support therefor on said tractor, a cable on said boom, aframe sus-' pended onsaid cable, a pipe cleaner supported in said frame, a shaft at the upper end of said frame, means to rotate said cleaner from said shaft, a; power take-off from said tractor, operative connections between said power take-off and said shaft, and means on said tractor connected with said frame to move said frame and cleaner with said tractor along said pipe.

I 3'. A pipe cleaner attachment for tractors including a boom, a support therefor on said pended on said cable, a pipecleaner supported insaid frame, a shaft at the upper end of said frame, means to rotate said cleaner from said shaft, a power take-off from said tractor, operative connections-between said power take-off and said shaft, and resilient means'connecting pipe.

said frame and cleaning elementwhile said said frame with said tractor, whereby said frame and cleaner may be moved along the 5. including a frame surrounding the pipe, a cleaning element in said frame adapted to engage the outer surface of'the pipe, and means independent of the pipe to support element is operated.

' 6.. A cleaner for theou'tside of pipe lines including a frame, a cleaning element in said frame adapted to engage the outer surface of the pipe, means including a vehicle adapted to travel at the side of the pipe'to support said frame and cleaning element while said element is operated, and means to move said cleaning element along said pipe line. 7. A cleaner for the outside of pipe lines including a frame shaped to surround said pipe, a cleaning element in said frame adapted toengage the outer surface of the plpe, means independent of the pipe being cleaned to support said frame and cleaningeelement while said element is operated, and means connected with said first means to impart motion to said cleaning element.

8. A cleaner for the outside of pipe lines includin a frame, a cleaning element in said frame a apted to engage the outer surface of the pipe, a portable support including a tractor adapted to travel on the ground adjacent said pipe, vertically adjustable means thereon to sustain the weight of said cleaning'element and means on said support to rotate said element. i

9. A cleaner for the outside of pipe including a frame, a rotatable-cleaning element in said frame, a portably mounted supportin dependent of said pipe, a cable thereon'connected with said frame, means on said cable to balance the weight of said frame, means to rotate said cleaning element,- and additionalmeans to move said cleaning element along said pipe. I

v 10. A cleaner for the outside of pipe mcluding a frame, a rotatable cleaning element in said frame, a portably mounted support in; I dependent of said pipe, a cable thereon connected with said frame, means to rotate said, cleaning element, and additional means to move said cleaning element along said pipe.

11. A cleaner for the outside of pipeincludin a. frame, a rotatable cleaning element in sai frame, a portably mounted support independent of said pipe, a-cable thereon connected with said frame, means to control said cable to raise and lower said frame as desired,

' frame, a pipe cleaning element therein, a

tractor, a boom thereon, a cable on said boom connected. with said frame to flexibly support said frame, means on said cable to balance the weight of said. frame and cleaning element,

- and means to operate said cleaning element. A cleaner for the outside of pipe lines --a frame, a pipe cleaning element therein, a

13. In a device of the character described,

tractor, a boom thereon, a cable on said boom connected with sa1d frame to flexibly support sa1d frame, means on said cable to balance the weight of said frame and cleaningelement, means to raise and lower said frame,

and a power connection between said tractor and said cleaning element, whereby said element may be operated. I

14. In a device of the character described, a frame, a pipe cleaning element therein, a tractor, a boom thereon, a cable on said boom connected with said frame to flexibly support said frame, means on said cable to balance the weight of said frame and cleaning element, a power take-off on said tractor, a flexible shaft operatively connected therewith, and

' 16. In a device for cleaning a pipe in p0 sition along a ditch, comprising a frame fitting about said pipe, a pipe cleaning element in said frame, portable means adapted to travel alongsaid ditch to support said frame,

means to vary the height of said frame rela-v tive'to said support, and means to operate said pipe cleaning element.

17. In a device for cleaning a pipe in posi-' tion along a ditch, comprising a frame fitting about said pipe, a pipe cleaning element in said frame, portable means adapted'to travel along said ditch to support said frame, and means to operate said pipe cleaning element while said frame and cleaner are travelling along said pipe.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 2nd day of May, A. D. 1927.

- FRED McMANIS. 

